Wednesday, October 03, 2018

We haven't talked ratings in a while and since the 3rd quarter numbers are out let's take a look. The following information is from TVNewser:

CNN has transformed into a consistent top 10 cable network during the Trump era. In fact, CNN was the No. 5 basic cable network in total day viewers, and No. 7 in prime time viewers for Q3 2018.

Ranking in the top 5-10 is no small feat, but the issue for CNN is that it has awfully stiff competition to go up against these days, considering its two main competitors–Fox News and MSNBC–are presently the two-most-watched networks on cable TV.

CNN is down year-over-year in all relevant measurements. The numbers don’t lie.

Compared to Q3 2017 , CNN was -12 percent among adults 25-54 watching in prime time, which is the daypart where TV networks (whether it be news, sports or entertainment) traditionally set premium ad rates. The network was also -6 percent in total viewers in Q3 2018 vs. Q3 of last year.

Across the 24-hour day (Total Day), CNN was -9 percent in total viewers, and -20 percent in total day viewers vs. its Q3 2017 average.

Here are the ratings for Q3, 2018 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

Prime time (Mon-Sun): 1,028,000 total viewers / 334,000 A25-54

Total Day (Mon-Sun): 722,000 total viewers / 213,000 A25-54

CNN may be sitting in third place in prime time, but it’s more than happy to tout its victories over MSNBC among younger viewers during non-prime time hours.

In fact, the network has now outperformed MSNBC for 18 straight quarters in total day in the key 25-54 demo, the longest quarterly streak since Q2 2010. In dayside hours, CNN beat MSNBC for the 24th consecutive quarter among adults 25-54.

Additionally, CNN also topped MSNBC on weekends in total day and prime time in both total viewers and A25-54 this quarter, and defeated both MSNBC and Fox News among adults 25-54 on Saturdays from 1-6 p.m. ET, and on Sundays in the 12 p.m. hour and every hour from 2-8 p.m. and 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

The Lead with Jake Tapper ranked No. 2 in cable news this quarter among adults 25-54 ahead of MSNBC’s Deadline: White House, and has outperformed MSNBC for 22 of the last 23 quarters. But the program finished behind Fox News and MNSBC in the 4 p.m. hour among total viewers.

The same was true for The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett Outfront, and Anderson Cooper 360, as all three programs beat their MSNBC timeslot competition in the A25-54 demo, but fell short in total viewers.

Cuomo Prime Time has been a nice addition to the CNN prime time lineup. No, the show probably won’t be able to knock off Hannity or Maddow anytime soon (no show will), but it posted +9 percent growth in total viewers, and +3 percent growth among adults 25-54 vs. what CNN delivered in the 9 p.m. hour in Q3 2017. Cuomo also gave CNN its largest Q3 viewership in 13 years (since 2005) in the 9 p.m. hour.

But on the downside, Cuomo’s move may be having an adverse effect on New Day, which is posting the most significant audience declines of the three morning cable news shows.

Cuomo’s ratings have undoubtedly given a lift to Don Lemon‘s 10 p.m. hour. CNN Tonight is having its best Q3 ratings on record in total viewers (1.195 million).

And from CNN's Q3 press release:

Anderson Cooper 360 (8pm) is now back ahead of MSNBC’s All In this quarter among adults 25-54 (375k vs. 343k) and has outperformed MSNBC for 15 of the last 18 quarters. This is AC360’s third-highest 3Q on record among both total viewers (1.164 million) and the demo (375k, just after 2017 and 2016).